Here is Narendra Kusnur’s list of top 15 tunes from this era. See how he made his picks.
There was melody, poetry, style, and substance in the music of this era. Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh produced hit after hit.
To select 15 songs from the Golden Era of Hindi film music was by no means an easy task. Each listener will look for his or her personal favourites. But the effort here has been to choose a mix of songs, from the romantic and the tragic to the devotional and patriotic.
The attempt has also been to represent a range of music directors. While Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, SD Burman and OP Nayyar were the most prolific, there were others who made great contributions too. Among the lyricists, Shailendra and Sahir Ludhianvi have four songs apiece here, but then that is representative of their genius. Each song has been chosen for a reason. Meri Jaan Sunday was in a film (Shehnai) released the day India became independent. And Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaano Ka was in a film (Naya Daur) released on India’s 10th Independence Day.
The Barsaat song was chosen because the film gave a huge fillip to Lata. The songs from Shree 420, CID, Pyaasa and Hum Dono because of the significance of their lyrics, which deal with the burgeoning pride of a new nation (Mera Joota Hai Japani), the eternal love-hate bond of Mumbaiites with Mumbai (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), the invisibilisation of poverty and want (Jaane Woh Kaise Log The Jinke), the theme of harmony in a newly partitioned nation (Allah Tero Naam). Of the hundreds of love songs released in this era, the one from Mughal-e-Azam stood apart for the sheer power and defiance of the emotion it expressed (Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya). For a twist in the sound, the qawwali in Barsaat Ki Raat was included.
There were challenges too – Geeta Dutt could have been represented by any of her bubblier songs, such as Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu or Babuji Dheere Chalna. But Waqt Ne Kiya reminds us that she had another side, lilting and full of ache. Talat Mahmood had a string of hits too, but this list opted for the big break, Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal.
Don’t see your favourite here? We apologise. Some of our personal favourites didn’t make the cut. Go ahead and listen in, though. You might discover or rediscover a rare gem.
Shehnai was released on August 15, 1947, with music by C Ramchandra and lyrics by PL Santoshi. Ramchandra sang the song under the name Chitalkar, but while the film version featured Amirbai Karnataki and Lalita Deulkar, the 78rpm version had the voices of Meena Kapoor and Shamshad Begum
This was music director Shankar-Jaikishan’s debut, and with six hits, was a major boost to Lata Mangeshkar’s career. Filmed on Nimmi with a group of dancers and a cameo by Raj Kapoor, it has lyrics by Shailendra. The same year, Lata sang Aayega Aanewala for composer Khemchand Prakash and lyricist J Nakshab in Mahal, and shot into the limelight.
Talat Mahmood was one of the most popular singers of the 1950s, his forte being sad songs. This Anil Biswas composition gave him his big break, and its picturisation on Dilip Kumar added to the impact. Lyrics were by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Naushad was joined by singer Mohammed Rafi and lyricist Shakeel Badayuni on this bhajan composed in Raag Malkauns. Bharat Bhushan appeared on screen. In this film, Naushad made elaborate use of classical raags
Filmed on Raj Kapoor, this song sang of the pride of being Indian, even if one wore clothes and shoes made elsewhere. Sung by Mukesh, whose voice was the perfect fit for Raj Kapoor, it was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan and written by Shailendra.
The song talked about the challenges of living in Bambai. Sung by Rafi, it was composed by OP Nayyar and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Johnny Walker and Kumkum appeared on screen. The song remains an anthem for the city.
This classic sung by Hemant Kumar was composed by SD Burman and picturised on Guru Dutt. Sahir Ludhianvi described the emotions of a person who felt deprived by people and circumstance
This patriotic song talks of the richness of India, and appropriately the film was released on India’s 10th Independence Day. Sung by Rafi and Balbir, it featured a group dance led by Dilip Kumar and Ajit. OP Nayyar composed the tune and Sahir wrote the immortal words.
The significance of this song is that it was one of Asha Bhosle’s solo hits at a time while many solos were sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Dutt. Composed by OP Nayyar, it was written by Qamar Jalalabadi.
This entire soundtrack was wonderfully composed by Salil Chowdhury. While Lata had the hit song Aaja Re Pardesi, Mukesh sang Suhana Safar, picturised on Dilip Kumar. Shailendra’s lyrics talk of a person simply enjoying his journey.
Geeta Dutt’s voice shone in this song filmed on Waheeda Rahman and Guru Dutt. Lyricist Kaifi Azmi talks of how relationships and people change with time; SD Burman composed the tune.
A legendary song of this period, filmed on Madhubala, Dilip Kumar and Prithviraj Kapoor. Lata Mangeshkar sang Shakeel Badayuni’s lines, of fearlessness in love. Naushad composed the music
Any list from this period would be incomplete without a song filmed on Dev Anand, who featured in numerous hits. This one, composed by SD Burman with lyrics by Shailendra, was sung by Rafi and remains an evergreen classic
This was a classic example of a filmi qawwali, with Roshan composing the music. The singers were Rafi, Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Sudha Malhotra and SD Batish. Sahir wrote the words keeping the qawwali format in mind.
This song was sung by Lata, with lovely choral backup. Nanda appeared on screen. Sahir talked of religious harmony, with Jaidev composing the music. The song is still used at prayer meets.
